Blue Tulip Trail – From Manarola to Volastra, uphill

The Blue Tulip Trail, part of trail 506, is a themed itinerary retracing the history and traditions of the ancient farming civilisation of the Cinque Terre, connecting the villages of Manarola, Groppo and Volastra.

Route options

The itinerary can be followed in different directions, each with specific points of historical and religious interest.

1. From Manarola to Volastra, uphill

The route climbs the valley starting from the Marina of Manarola:

• Shrine of San Michele: located near the marina, it stands where the oratory of the same name once stood, already documented in 1546
• Cemetery and fortifications: from the top of the climb, you can observe the fortified core of the village and a house built above the old fort used for defence against pirates
• Madonna del Luogo and Madonna del Campaa: votive shrines where processions were historically held to bless the fields
• Meda della Marina: a signal once used by ships to identify alignment with the coast
• Strada Fiesse: a wide stairway inaugurated in 1937 that connected Manarola with Volastra. Before the construction of the cemetery in Volastra, it was used to carry coffins by hand

2. Towards Groppo

From Piè di Fiesse, crossing Provincial Road SP51, it is possible to head towards the village of Groppo:

• Fiesse shrine: a stopping point during processions and the junction for trail 502 towards the ridge
• Mulberry cultivation: the wet areas near the channels were used for mulberry trees for silkworm farming, later replaced by lemons in the 19th century

3. From Volastra to Manarola, downhill

Starting from the church square in Volastra, the route descends through the history of the village:

• Origins of Volastra: the name derives from Vicus Oleaster, meaning village of olive trees, the main local crop
• Stalle: an area of the village recalling the ancient Roman posting station for changing horses along the Luni-Genoa coastal route
• Il Cippo: a funerary monument in the churchyard, traditionally linked to two Genoese officers who died in the battle of 1273
• Legend of the bells: according to tradition, in the 16th century the inhabitants buried the bells to protect them from Saracen pirates, but were never able to find them again